What sort of power outputs would we be looking at from Formula One engines if manufacturers could basically do what they wanted? To give this some sort of frame of reference, how about restricting this to just technologies and specs seen in the sport since the first turbo era.
First turbo era - At it's peak, before fuel and boost restrictions, engines were able to get up to the 1000 bhp mark using value springs, cast iron blocks and two valves per cyclinder from 1.5L engines.
The V10 era - By the end of 2005 engines were again approaching the 1000 bhp mark even as part of a 3.0L formula. If the old 3.5 litres had been retained, the 20,000 rpm some manufacturers were getting on the dyno and the use of exotic materials like beryllium pistons had been retained you'd fancy they'd be well over 1000bhp, possibly even knocking on 1200bhp.
Second turbo era - It's only been around three seasons and we already back up to the 1000bhp mark with restricted fuel flow, revs, engine size and electrical gathering capacity.
If an engine builder was able to combine all of the above, what sort of power outputs would we be talking about? 2000bhp? More??? Is a 3.5 litre, 20,000rpm V10 with 5 bar of boost, an alcohol/petrol fuel mix and ERS even theoretically possible, or would the darn thing simply explode on the dyno?
I highly doubt such a monster would be anything like driveable round an F1 circuit. but it would be interesting to hear people's thoughts.
Thanks